“I had a very nice conversation with the woman, with the wife who was — sounded like a lovely woman. Did not say what the Congresswoman said, and most people aren’t too surprised to hear that.”

However Ms Wilson responded: "I still stand by my account of the call b/t Donald Trump and Myeshia Johnson. That is her name, Mr. Trump. Not ‘the woman’ or ‘the wife’.”

The Congresswoman’s account was later verified by the soldier’s mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson, who had been listening in on the call.

She said: “President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband.”

The White House did not confirm or deny Ms Wilson’s account on Tuesday. An official said: “The President’s conversations with the families of American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice are private.”

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, later said Mr Trump’s call had been completely respectful” but did not dispute the words attributed to him.